Infinitívusa

Infinitívusa is a linguistic term used to refer to the infinitive form of a verb—the base, non-finite form that denotes the action concept itself without expressing a specific subject, number, or tense. The term is derived from the broader concept of the infinitive (infinitivus in Latin and in many modern grammars) and is encountered in various language traditions to describe this key verb form.

Across languages, the infinitive is realized in different ways. In Hungarian, the infinitive is typically shown by a verb stem plus -ni, as in írni (to write) or olvasni (to read). In English, the infinitive commonly appears as to + base form, as in to write, though English also uses a bare infinitive after certain auxiliaries and modals. Spanish uses infinitivos such as escribir, comer, vivir, which end in -ar, -er, or -ir. In German, the infinitiv form is typically the dictionary form of the verb, used without personal endings.

Functions and uses of the infinitive are broad. It can act as a noun (subject or object), as a complement after certain verbs, adjectives, or prepositions, and it often serves as the dictionary form from which other verb forms are derived. In many languages, infinitives participate in periphrastic constructions, express purpose, or introduce subordinate clauses, sometimes with modal or auxiliary verbs.

In scholarly writing, infinitívusa may be used as a precise label for the infinitive form within morphosyntactic descriptions, though everyday grammar texts more commonly refer to the broader term infinitive or főnévi igenév in Hungarian.